Today we’d like to introduce you to Coliene Belle.
Hi Coliene, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m trained as a pastry chef. While I was working as a test baker for a gluten-free company, I was asked to photograph the final baking products. The company was really pleased with my pictures… this evolved into me photographing more until I eventually gravitated to photographing people. My husband and I started working as a team when we realized that there were many couples like ourselves that were leaning towards small weddings or elopements but didn’t want to forgo photography. My husband had been a reporter for many years, so being involved with the storytelling and capturing of an intimate wedding felt like a natural fit for us. We thrive in a small celebration environment and felt that’s where we are truly meant to be.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I struggle with social media. It’s difficult for me to post regularly, to think of witty comments. It doesn’t feel as authentic to me to do as it may to other photographers. Social media and the use of filters also has changed the way a lot of people see themselves on camera… I’m not shooting a selfie. And I’m not editing someone like a filter would.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a husband and wife team running a natural photography business out of Cumming, GA. We photograph around the Atlanta area. We photograph families, couples, newborns in home. We have made a niche for ourselves for photographing small weddings and elopement’s that don’t have traditional full day photography needs. In fact, we don’t even do that anymore, we only take on clients needing four or less hours of photography. We love being a part of a more intimate wedding party and really try to take the time to get to know our couples and get to tell their story. I, Coliene, stick with all photography and editing, and my husband all do second shoots as needed and also is ordained and marries couples. We focus on total inclusiveness in our area and love getting to photograph all families and celebrations- the less traditional the better! We are really about letting out immediate community know that we are in their area – for all couples, all families.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My client’s happiness with their photos matters the most to me. I spend time trying to make sure I’m a good match as a photographer for their needs- especially for weddings- and I always have their happiness first. Sometimes that means I may suggest another photographer to someone who is looking for what’s not me. But when it’s a match with me and a client, I’m really gonna do everything I can to make sure that they are happy with what I deliver. With their pictures, with me personally, with my service.
Pricing:
- 300 hr for family photography
- 350 – 400 hr for wedding photography
Contact Info:
- Email: Sweettoothphotography@yahoo.com
- Website: Sweettoothphotography.com
- Instagram: @sweettoothpics
- Facebook: Fb.com/sweettoothpics
Image Credits
Photo of photographers (first image) is by Colleen Elise photography
